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Eat Popcorn Inspired by Flour’s Sticky Bun at a Seaport Movie Theater Next Month

Plus, Necco needs a buyer, Dairy Queen’s going after W.B. Mason’s Blizzard water, and more news

Showplace Icon chef popcorns
Fancy-shmancy popcorns at Showplace Icon in Boston’s Seaport District
Showplace Icon [Official Photo]

Welcome back to AM Intel, a round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.

#OpenInBOS

The forecast has been up and down, and today will probably end up being a bit of a snowy, rainy mess, but we do not currently plan to track openings and closings throughout the day. You can still consult the Eater Boston Winter Dining Headquarters (happy spring, everyone) to see a list of restaurants that have stated that they never close for storms. When in doubt, head to a hotel restaurant.

Fancy Popcorn

Even though stale popcorn smothered with liquid “butter” is a time-honored movie theater tradition, the Showplace Icon in Boston’s Seaport District (60 Seaport Blvd.) wants to give movie-goers some other options. The theater has partnered with a dozen well-known Boston chefs, each of whom has come up with a special popcorn flavor that’ll be available for a month at $8.41 per bucket. Up first: sticky bun popcorn with roasted pecans by Joanne Chang (based on her iconic Flour sticky bun), available throughout April; followed by ginger curry “fried chicken” popcorn by Pabu executive chef Benjamin Steigers, available in May; and pad thai popcorn with roasted peanuts by Ken Oringer (Little Donkey, Toro, etc.) in June.

Troubled Times at Necco

New England Confectionery Co. (Necco) — which was founded in 1847 in Fort Point before moving to Cambridge and eventually Revere — is looking for a buyer, and nearly 400 workers could be laid off if a deal isn’t made. The company is behind many classic candies that can be found around New England and beyond, from the eponymous chocolate and rainbow Necco Wafers to Sweethearts, a Valentine’s Day staple, not to mention Sky Bar, Candy Buttons, and Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Dairy Queen Is Going After a Local Office Supply Company

Dairy Queen, a sizable chain known for its soft serve ice cream, has been serving up its Blizzard treat — soft serve with various mix-ins — for decades; the dessert dates back to 1946, and the name was first trademarked in 1952. W.B. Mason, a local office supply distributor (based in Brockton) has been selling copy paper under the name Blizzard for about 15 years and Blizzard bottled water since 2010. After W.B. Mason submitted trademark applications for its Blizzard water last year, Dairy Queen got wind of the name and has now filed a complaint seeking an injunction and profits from W.B. Mason’s water sales, stating that there is a “likelihood of confusion” because Dairy Queen also sells water. Even more, Dairy Queen’s lawyers state that W.B. Mason threatens “irreparable injury” by using the name. Raise your hand if you have ever confused a bottle of water from W.B. Mason with a candy-filled soft serve dessert from Dairy Queen.

Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email boston@eater.com.